Chennai

“As per the timber rules related to felling of teak, red sander and protected shola trees, there are rules that protect these trees and the transit of such timber without the forest department’s permission is illegal, but these rules are not popularised till date,” said green activist S Gauthaman. "There is a need for more laws that will protect the avenue trees but there is no action against those cutting trees for timber,”Gauthaman said.

“No person shall take any timber or pass any timber from any road or river on which a checking station has been placed, with intent to evade the production of the timber at the checking station. The quantity of timber in transit shall not be greater than that entered in the permit, but these timber rules are hardly put into practice,” said an informed forest staff, confirming the recent chopping of trees in Tiruvannamalai.

“I have been running from pillar to post to register the complaints related to felling of more than 50 teak trees in private land. I have lodged a police complaint, but no action has taken place as there are land related jurisdiction issues and on Monday, I will file a complaint to the district collector,” said K Ramasamy, a resident of Nayudumangalam, Tiruvannamalai.

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